Pateick w



(No Model.)

P. W. GROOM.

SHOVEL.

Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

Inn enter j aczizm 240cm Wit m/ss e s u Pmns "mic-WI. Wuhinpm mg.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EETCE.

PATRICK V. GROOM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE ST. LOUIS SHOVEL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed Juice 1-1, 1886.

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK XV. GRooM, of St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Shovels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The improvement consists in a peculiarlyconstructed step attached to the shovel, substantially in the manner hereinafter described, and designated in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of that part of the shovel with which the improvement in question is immediately associated. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, looking upward on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the part that forms the step. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the part shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. '7 is ahorizontal section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

A represents the shovel-blade, and B represents the shovelhandle, which parts are constructed in the ordinary manner.

I desire not to be confined to the particular type of shovel exhibited in applying the improvement; but the type of shovel shown is one to which the improvement is specially adapted.

Orepresentstheimprovedstep. Theshovel is preferably provided with two of them, arranged, respectively, at each side of the shovelhandle.

The step consists, substantially, of a horizontal portion, 6, and a vertically-extended lug, c. The horizontal portion in length extends from the shovel-handle well toward and generally quite to the side edge of the shovelblade, and in width it is extended sufficiently Patent NO. 859,967, dated March 22, 1887.

Serial No.205,159. (No model.)

to form a broad hearing or step for the operators foot, substantially as shown more distinctly in Fig. 7. The portion 0, at its back, conforms in outline to that of the shovelblade, and when the step is in position the rear edge, 0 of the portion 0 comes, as shown in Fig. 5, flush with the back of the shovelblade. The lug c is set in from the rear edge,

a", a distance equal to the thickness of the shovel-blade. The step is fastened to the shovelblade by means of the rivets 0, Figs.

1, 2, 3, 5'. The fastening is made more complete by providing the portion 0 with or extending it to form a point, 0*, Figs. 4, 6, 7, which point, when the step is attached, is, as shown in Fig. 7, made to penetrate theshovelhandle. In this manner a step is provided for the. shovel which does not in the least project rcarwardly beyond the back of the shovelblade. There is therefore no projection upon the back of the shovel-blade to form an obstacle to its use, or against which dirt is liable to collect.

I am aware that shovels have been provided With a rest for the foot, and hence I do not broadly lay claim thereto, my present object being to contrive a support for the foot that when attached to the shovel-blade shall leave the blade at the back wholly free of any projection, such as shown in the constructions referred to, and

Vhat I claim is- A shovel-blade step consisting of a horizontal portion, 0, adapted to come liush with the back of the shovel-blade, and provided with the lug c, as and for the purpose described.

PATRlC-K V. GROOH.

\Vitnesses:

G. D. Moonr, B. F. REX. 

